Chapter 41: The Cafeteria Interrogation
"Auston!" "Big Bro!" The voices rang out simultaneously as a young man approached a table on the top floor of the cafeteria—an open area where the bottom floor could be viewed in all its bustling glory.
The whole place was picturesque, with huge windows making up eighty percent of the walls. As though the brilliant natural light streaming in wasn’t enough, numerous chandeliers hung at multiple strategic locations across the ceiling, with a massive opening at the center. Each fixture glittered with golden light, further beautifying an already mystifying backdrop.
"Yo, Angelica and... Nora?" Auston frowned as he took in the scene. "Where are Cassandra and Anna?"
This was strange. He always had lunch with all five of his friends—well, technically four friends and his sister. Nora was actually the one who rarely showed up, mostly because she was usually busy accompanying her own friend somewhere.
"Anna left to find her..." Nora placed a fork against her chin, looking up with a confused expression. "I’m not really sure—her cousin?"
"Friend," Angelica corrected smoothly, cutting a piece of meat with her knife before forking it and adding some marinated vegetables. She took a delicate bite, then looked up at Auston with barely concealed irritation. "Maybe you should sit down first?"
"Yeah, you’re right," Auston nodded, placing his tray on the pristine white table before pulling back a chair and settling into it.
"Um... what about Isabella and Cassandra?" he asked innocently.
Angelica slowly placed her cutlery down and looked him straight in the eyes. Even Nora seemed a bit unnerved by that stare, though she couldn’t help smiling in amusement, already anticipating the usual drama.
"Isabella is out with Anna," Angelica said with dangerous calm, "and as for Cassandra, she had some things to take care of in the student council. Now..." Her smile was absolutely ’angelic’. "Can you eat without bringing up the other girls again?"
"Sure..." Auston replied.